Days after an FIR was lodged against Farman Khan over the controversy surrounding his marriage to Monalisa Bhosle – a young woman who came into limelight during the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela – the CPI(M) and Kerala police said the girl’s age was verified during their wedding at a temple in Kerala.
The police said that the Aadhaar card given by Monalisa Bhosle was found to be genuine and that she was 18 at the time.
An investigation was recently launched in Madhya Pradesh after claims that Monalise Bhosle was only 16 at the time of her marriage.
CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan said documents submitted by the girl’s father indicated that she was not a minor and based on that the party supported the marriage, Deccan Herald reported.
Meanwhile, CPI General Secretary Binoy Viswom claimed that there was a political motive behind the controversy and any new information should be properly investigated.
When asked about the allegation that Monalisa Bhosle was a minor at the time of her marriage, he replied, “Politics is behind it all. You can forget it, but we can’t.”
The wedding ceremony was held in the Gurumandiram outside the temple premises. Hundreds of people including MV Govindan, Kerala Minister V Sivankutty and CPI(M) district secretary AA Rahim attended the event.
What does Monalisa say, Farman?
As the controversy escalated, Monalisa Bhosle and Farman Khan refuted allegations of “love jihad” and said the couple married according to Hindu customs.
She said, “We got married according to Hindu customs. I follow all religions. My father (I) wanted me to marry someone else but I refused. He did not attend our marriage.”
Farman Khan also said that neither he nor Monalisa converted to get married.
“This is not a love jihad. We both follow our own religions, but we also respect all religions. We are both human beings first. Neither of us converted. We both love each other and that is why we got married,” Farman Khan said.
“We decided to get married in Kerala at this place because we like the Nayanar temple. The people of Kerala are very nice,” said Farman.
“People here are very supportive. We dated for six months,” added Monalisa.
Farman Khan continued, “Those six months were like sixty years of love, that’s why we decided to get married. We met during the shooting of the film. We worked together. We talked. Monalisa proposed, initially I refused, but Monalisa convinced me.”
